In my previous column, I discussed how chronic political instability is affecting the conduct of our foreign policy. Here, I delve into how foreign powers, big and small alike, influence Nepal’s foreign policy. We often criticize our politicians for their lack of maturity and consistency. In most foreign policy discourses, I often hear this question:...
Over the past few years, Nepal has found itself in the midst of a tug-of-war among three major global powers: India, China, and the US. Each of these countries are vying for influence in Nepal’s economic, military, ideological and technological spheres. Let’s begin with the US. The Biden administration in the US has made advancing...
With a touch of nip still in the air, New Delhi had just about the perfect weather to welcome over 3,000 delegates to the three-day Raisina Dialogue (February 21-23). Another couple of weeks, and the Taj Palace Hotel lawns could have been boiling hot. Hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry...
2023 has been an interesting time for Nepali diplomacy. After the end of the Covid pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war raged. Global affairs have been more troubled with the addition of the Israel-Hamas conflict. As Nepalis have been directly involved in both theatres, Nepal’s foreign outreach is strained. Nepal has much to do to secure the...
KP Oli is out on the street protesting as he cannot be in the seat of power in Singhadurbar. A big reason for the desperation of the leader of the opposition is his dismal standing with the south. Starting with Matrika Prasad Koirala, the first post-Rana prime minister, Nepali heads of government have all internalised...
Since the second half of the twentieth century, Nepal’s foreign policy has predominantly revolved around India and China, against the backdrop of India’s independence in 1947 and China’s takeover of Tibet in 1950. The policy focused on safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity in addition to achieving economic wellbeing and prosperity, and has not seen much...
Amid escalating tensions and changing political environment in Asia, Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, is scheduled to visit China on September 23. This will be his second foreign trip after assuming charge as the country’s prime minister in December 2022. Unlike 2008, when Prachanda chose Beijing as his first foreign...
ntroductionIn June 2022, India introduced the Agnipath scheme to reform the recruitment and retirement mechanisms of its armed forces. Under the policy, youth between the ages of 17-and-a-half and 21 years will be recruited to the armed forces for four years of service. The scheme aims to improve the Indian military’s battle preparedness through merit-based...
The five-party ruling coalition has formed a 10-member task force to prepare a Common Minimum Program (CMP) of the government. Along with domestic issues, the task force will also outline the foreign policy priorities of the new government. The latest coalition has four communist parties—CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), and Janata Samajbadi Party—and...
There is no shortage of discussion in Kathmandu on the changing geopolitical landscape and the challenges Nepal currently faces in its external relations. Although serious research and publications are lacking, Kathmandu-based think tanks somehow manage to secure financial resources to organize programs at upscale hotels. Lately, there has been a boom in the number of...